North America’s second largest woodpecker, a pointed red crest and solid black back identify this bird. In the male the forehead and mustache are red while in the female they are black. The chiseled, thick silver bill is used to drum on trees to announce territory and to dig oval shaped holes. Their long sticky tongue is used to reach into carpenter ant burrows beneath the bark, a favorite food. The ‘Woody Woodpecker’ of cartoon fame was modeled after this woodpecker.

Latin Name: Dryocopus Pileatus

Habitat:Pine flatwoods, Oak Hammock

Diet: carpenter ants, grubs and other insects